The Madison County Industrial Development and Building Authority (IDA) has installed water lines in the county as quickly as possible in recent years, with the long-term aim to improve infrastructure and attract businesses to the county.

But customers haven’t signed up for water services as quickly as some have hoped. And IDA chairman Bruce Azevedo raised some questions during the group’s July 15 meeting about the authority’s overall strategies. He suggested the IDA focus on seeking more customers before it commits to installing more lines in the ground. The cost for customers to hook up to county water lines is $1,650.

“We’ve got a certain amount of lines out there and we need people to hook up, but they’re not,” said Azevedo. “And if they don’t have the money to hook up, it doesn’t matter how many miles of lines we have, they’re still not going to do it unless they absolutely have to. Shouldn’t we come up with some sort of marketing plan or incentive plan to get people on the lines that we have right now? If we keep putting lines in the ground and nobody hooks up, sooner or later we’re not going to be able to afford to do anything.”

Azevedo raised the questions after IDA executive director Marvin White presented the authority with a proposed $1.5 million loan from the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority. White noted that the terms would be favorable, with $375,000 of the loan forgivable and the rest paid back over 20 years with a 1.4 percent interest rate.

White suggested the loan funds could be used to install a water tank at Columbia Feed Mill on Hwy. 72 and to install more water lines in the Hull area, adding that the money could probably cover the cost of seven to eight miles of new lines. Azevedo asked White how many customers might connect to those lines and White said he hoped to get 60 to 70 new customers.

area, adding that the money could probably cover the cost of seven to eight miles of new lines. Azevedo asked White how many customers might connect to those lines and White said he hoped to get 60 to 70 new customers.

Azevedo said the IDA needs to function as a business, with a focus on generating revenues to offset debts.

“We’re building up debt, but we’re not getting new income and we haven’t increased our amount of customers in quite awhile,” said Azevedo. “That bothers me a lot.”

White said “there’s no way to start a profitable water system” — the executive director has said the main aim of establishing water services is to draw new business, not to make money. White added that there hasn’t been much construction in the county in recent years, but that customers do connect when there is construction.

IDA member Gerry Burdette added that a 1.4 percent interest rate on loans won’t be available forever for water line installation.

“When it (the economy) turns around and people are wanting to hook up, can we borrow at 1.4 percent?” asked Burdette. “I bet you we can’t.”
But Azevedo said he fears the group’s debt could handcuff it in years to come. The IDA will pay $720,000 (or $60,000 per month) over the next year in GEFA loan costs. He said he worries that a big business will want to locate in the county, but the IDA will be too saddled with debt to offer infrastructure assistance.

“It’s just like any business,” said Azevedo. “There’s a time when you invest and a time when you don’t invest and I didn’t have a problem putting water lines in the ground. I think it’s important. It’s just a matter of being cautious of the costs up until we figure out how long is this going to go. We were adding customers at a regular pace and that has stopped. And I fear that part of it has to do with the cost of people hooking up.”
White responded: “Have you checked on the cost of having a well drilled?”

Azevedo said times are tough and there are people letting wells go dry and just going without water. IDA member Randy Wilson said that even with a limited-time reduced connection rate of $900, some people he talked to couldn’t afford the connection.

Azevedo said he’d like to know how many people in the county would like to hook up to county water but just can’t afford it.

Utility director Steve Shaw said customers don’t have to pay every dime at once. He said the county will accept half of the connection payment up front followed by $100 per month payments until the cost is covered.

IDA member Roger Tench suggested the group hold a work session to talk about whether they want to take on another loan, as well as how the IDA might attract new customers to existing lines. As of press time, no date had been set for that meeting.

We or MC can put in all types of infrastructure but until the viewed by other counties that MC good old boys are running the place we will not get quality business. Just look at Sam Bruce Rd issue as a classic example. I chat with people in Athen's and elsewhere and they do not view MC as a competitor for getting a major plant. Going to BOC meeting at times better than TV.

I may have read that article all wrong, but it seems to me that Mr. Azevedo wants to hold up on building water lines and get some customers on the water lines that are already in place. Mr. White is the one who wants to run more lines without a customer base. My opinion is that Mr. Azevedo has a some business sense to want to gain customers and start paying off bills before getting that much more into debt.

You need to read the article again Enough. The man says we don't need to borrow money and be saddled with debt. That makes more sense than anything I have heard come out of this bunch of losers. Burdette has his own interests in mind when he talks about the economy coming back. Who in their right mind would think they could attract new 'customers' with suce a ridiculous hookup fee and then have to pay a very high price for water? This entire thing is not for the benefit of the citizenry, but built in hopes housing and commercial real estate will come bck and these jacklegs can make a pile of money.

Well, yes they will make some money and then turn around and spend it in Madison County perhaps. Do remember that the whole thing is designed to get some property tax burden off the homeowners and farmers. Get business to pay some of it and pick up some jobs as well. Seems reasonable. Apparently, highway 72 is the designated growth corridor; isn't the water going along that route? If the businesses are more industrial, warehouse or wholesale, there will be fewer people there to create a need for sewer. Certain manufacturing operations might need sewer and lots of water, but that field has gone overseas for the most part. Mr. Azevedo seems to have a more cautious approach for these uncertain times.

After watching what happened to all The Atlanta
citizens getting hammered by the water department
during the past droughts.
I don't see any advantage to having county water .
That is unless you like having the water police telling you how much when and where you can use your water along with who knows what kind of water bill.
After following water restrictions in Atlanta and people being forced to cut back or be fined.
The citizens in Atlanta cut back usage and then started getting higher water bills because the water department found they were losing revenue and raised rates .
The majority of people will never want that here I believe.
Cant say I blame them . If business wants it so bad let them pay for it .
As Bruce said people will never get hooked up to it until they have to.
Sounds like hearing until we are forced to .
I don't know about others but I have had a stomach full of government hacks forcing things down my throat .
The majority in America no longer has a representative government anymore.
Only the minorities and special interest and Corporate America has a voice or a seat at the table in this perverted government .
From the Local to the State and on up to the Federal government we are all getting played and some seem to be to ignorant to know or to scared to say or do anything about it .

The ida is a monster running unchecked doing its own thing.It apparently answers to no one.It is running up a tab that will eventually get dropped in the peoples lap.The only thing i see it has accomplished is boxing in the cities so they cant expand their systems if they grow.They are providing a system for growth in a county that refuses to grow.They are snaking all over the place when what they should have done is provide industrial growth corridors.Plus,what good does water do with out sewer to a large business?Why only plant water lines?I'll tell you.Because sewer has historically been a money loser.The ida doesn't want to invest in that.Also,they are going after money that eligibility is base on out of county water supply that we have been told that we will not get(unless something in franklin county has changed).But no one is trying to stop them so......

Excellent comment! When is there appointment terms up? How do we get rid of these two and the entire crowd? They are spending money like drunk sailors and have plan on how it will be paid back. Certainly not going to happen without the citizens cooperating and at these prices that will not happen

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